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Welcome! Our research focuses on the impact of natural disturbances and global environmental change on mesic and arid grassland ecosystems. We are particularly interested in the interactive effects of fire, grazing and drought in mesic grasslands in North America and South Africa, and how rainfall variability, temperature change, and shrub encroachment affect aridland ecosystems in the southwestern US.

The Sevilleta LTER is seeking applicants for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). Application deadline is February 10, 2015. We are looking for 10 Biology REU and 2 Art in Ecology REU students for the Summer of 2015.

Matt Petrie successfully defended his dissertation on 12 September 2014. After an excellent presentation to an enthusiastic audience he artfully managed to get his committee members talking to each other rather than asking him hard questions during the closed-door phase of the defense. It was masterful! Fortunately, Matt will stay at UNM through the Fall semester to complete his RA on our EDGE Project, and to finish up some publications. Two of his three chapters are published and the third is already in review.

Everyone please congratulate Dr Laura Ladwig after a wonderful departmental seminar attended by a large audience followed by a successful defense of her dissertation research. Laura plans to get the rest of her chapters submitted for publication before leaving for a work environment with higher mean annual rainfall. And she has successfully fulfilled that goal! Laura, who just happens to be from Wisconsin and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, will start a postdoc with Ellen Damschen at the University of Wisconsin on 1 July! Three Cheers!